GAZA CITY (Agencies): In a tragic and horrifying incident, Israeli troops opened fire on a hungry crowd at an aid distribution point near Gaza City. According to the local health ministry spokesperson, Ashaf al-Qidra, this unprovoked attack resulted in the deaths of at least 104 Palestinians and left 750 others wounded.
Video footage shared on social media captured the chaos as people desperately sought cover while victims were transported to hospitals using any available means, including donkey carts. The destruction of roads leading to the site exacerbated the situation.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged the injuries and casualties but shifted blame onto the victims. They claimed that the crowd was “pushing and trampling” in their eagerness to receive aid from the trucks. IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari asserted that only a few “warning shots” were fired to disperse the alleged “looters.”
However, an unnamed Israeli military source contradicted the official narrative. While admitting that their colleagues had indeed fired at the crowd, the source placed responsibility on the victims themselves. According to the source, the crowd’s approach posed a threat to the troops.
This tragic event underscores the escalating tensions in the region, with devastating consequences for civilians caught in the crossfire.